Hose retaining panty garment

ABSTRACT

A hose-retaining panty garment comprising a panty with leg extensions having, at least at the lower extremities thereof, longitudinally and circumferentially yieldable portions, a first circumferential band of circumferentially yieldable material joined in foldable edge to edge relation to each yieldable portion, a second band of circumferentially yieldable material joined in foldable edge to edge relation to each of said first bands, said bands being of essentially the same width, and said second band being adapted to be disposed in an upwardly folded juxtaposed position within said first band with a stocking edge extending upwardly between said assemblage and the leg of a wearer and downwardly between the juxtaposed bands, at least two of the four surfaces provided by the juxtaposed bands and interposed stocking edge carrying a circumferential deposit of resilient friction material, and at least the second named inwardly disposed of said circumferential bands having means for stiffening the same in its transverse dimension without impairing its circumferential yieldability.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Gerald W. Gluckin Rye; WilliamKurland, Sands Point, NY. [21] Appl. No. 798,099 [22] Filed Feb. 10,1969 [45] Patented May 11,1971 [73] Assignee William Gluckin & Co., Inc.

New York, N.Y.

54 HOSE RETAINING PANTY GARMENT 21 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig. [52] US. Cl 1.128/535, I 2/224, 128/528, 128/536 [51] Int. Cl A41c 1/08 [50] Field ofSearch 128/535, 524529, 505, 536; 2/224, 239,67 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,249,110 5/1966 Bryan 128/535 3,253,599 5/l966Bjorn-Larsen. 128/528 3,465,757 9/1969 Barg 128/535 PrimaryExaminer-Adele M. Eager Att0rneyHoward E. Thompson ABSTRACT: Ahose-retaining panty garment comprising a panty with leg extensionshaving, at least at the lower extremities thereof, longitudinally andcircumferentially yieldable portions, a first circumferential band ofcircumferentially yieldable material joined in foldable edge to edgerelation to each yieldable portion, a second band of circumferentiallyyieldable material joined in foldable edge to edge relation to each ofsaid first bands, said bands being of essentially the same width, andsaid second band being adapted to be disposed in an upwardly foldedjuxtaposed position within said first band with a stocking edgeextending upwardly between said assemblage and the leg of a wearer anddownwardly between the juxtaposed bands, at least two of the foursurfaces provided by the juxtaposed bands and interposed stocking edgecarrying a circumferential deposit of resilient friction material, andat least the second named inwardly disposed of said circumferentialbands having means for stiffening the same in its transverse dimensionwithout impairing its circumferential yieldability.

I HOSE RETAINING PANTY GARMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The propersupport of women's stockings has long been a problem due to the taperingcontour of the thigh and the strains put on any support in stooping,sitting and other kneeflexing movements. Conventional interlockinggarters,- while resorted to for many years, provide bulges which areunsightly and frequently uncomfortable to the wearer. Leg-encircling orroll-type garters, which may be useful between the knee and the calf,are ineffective above the knee due to the normal tapering of the thigh.

Attempts have been made by others to support women's stockings byengagement with leg extensions of panty garments but these attempts haveproved to be quite impractical or unreliable. U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,599discloses a structure in which a stocking edge is disposed between twodownwardly extending juxtaposed members secured to the panty leg andhaving friction material disposed circumferentially of the surfacescontacting the stocking edge. With this type of construction, a garmentwhich is comfortable on the wearer does not engage the stocking edge ina sufficiently positive way to prevent slipping in the normal sitting,squatting or other kneeflexing movements of the leg.

Another U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,634 discloses a somewhat similarconstruction in which the friction material is replaced by interfittingbuttons and buttonholes providing a positive interlock with the stockingat spaced positions. This type of support tends to produce the same typeof unsightly bulges as conventional garters and subjects the engagedstocking to undesirable localized stresses.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,571 discloses a panty garment having leg extensionshaving a plurality of vertically spaced and circumferentially extendingzones of friction material which are adapted to overlie the stockingedge and clamp it between the leg and the panty extensions. Here again,it has been found that a garment which is comfortable for the wearercannot provide a sufficiently positive support to prevent slippage ofthe stocking in normal leg movements.

It has now been found in accordance with the present invention that theproblems involved in the support of women's stockings can be solved in apractical way by attaching to leg extensions of a panty garment throughmeans providing yieldable movement with respect to the main body of thegarment, a circumferential garterlike member having two verticallyspaced band portions adapted, when folded to juxtaposed position, toengage a stocking edge therebetween with the stocking disposed betweenthe upwardly folded band and the leg of the wearer. This combination ofa positive engagement with the stocking edge and a yieldable connectionto the main body of the panty garment prevents the type of slippagewhich has previously been encountered in the support of stockings byengagement with panty garments, while at the same time maintaining adesired comfortable tension in the stocking in normal knee-flexingmovements of the leg.

The hose-retaining panty garments of the present invention will bereadily understood from a consideration of the following descriptionhaving reference to the accompanying drawing, in which a preferredadaptation is illustrated with the various parts thereof identified bysuitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a panty garment with thestocking-retaining means illustrated in extended position at the leftside and in folded stocking-engaging position at the right side of theFIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the stocking-engagingmeans looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a progressive diagrammatic view, similar to FIG. 2, andindicating in sections a to 2 thereof the successive steps in foldingand refolding the stocking-engaging means to arrive at the finalstocking-supporting position.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views similar to FIG. 40 showingmodifications in the location of friction material on thestocking-engaging means and the engaged stocking edge.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to the lower portion of FIG. 3, andindicating a slightly modified construction; and

FIG. 9 is a side view taken in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of FIG.8.

As shown in the drawing, a preferred adaptation of the invention isincorporated in a typical panty gamient 10 having coextensive bodyportion 11 and leg extensions 12 fashioned from suitable sheet material,preferably of the two-way stretch fabric type. The garment may, ifdesired, having a conventional type of crotch insert 13 of softermaterial and can have any type of supplementary paneling orornamentation, diagrammatically indicated at 14.

It isimportant that the lower portions of the leg extensions I2.haveappreciable longitudinal extendability and, with certain types oftwo-way stretch fabrics, the sheet material of the coextensive body andleg portions may provide such extendability. If greater extendability isdesired, however, than can be provided by such material, the desiredextendability can be achieved by securing to the leg extensions 12 anarrow band 15 of more extendible two-way stretch material having upperand lower reinforcing borders l6 and 17. This can suitably be an openmesh two-way stretch materialand it will be noted that, in FIG. 1, thelefthand showing 15 indicates the material in what might be termed arelaxed position, whereas I5 at the left-hand side of the FIG. shows thematerial under tension, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The novel stocking support assemblage 18, as more clearly illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, comprises a first or upper band 19 ofcircumferentially yieldable material secured to the lower edge of theleg extension or the reinforcing edge 17 thereof by foldablc means asshown by the stitching 20. The band 19 is, in turn, joined to a secondor lower circumferentially yieldable band 2!l through a second foldablemeans or stitching 22. Each of the bands 19, 21 have circumferentialzones 23 and 24, respectively, of friction material extending throughthe major portion of each band width. These zones of friction materialcan be provided in various ways as, for example, by incorporatingsurface strands of soft rubber or rubberlike composition in the weave ofthe bands or by providing a deposit of rubber or rubberlike material onthe surface of the bands. In the preferred adaptation as shown in thedrawing, such a deposit of foamed latex material has been shown ashaving surface irregularities in symmetrical wavy patterns, with thepattern of the deposit 23 being the mirror image of the deposit 24, sothat the irregularities can intermesh when the band 21 is folded intojuxtaposition with the band 19.

At least one of the bands 19 and 21, and preferably the lowermost band21, is provided with means for stiffening the band in a transversedirection without impairing its circumferential yieldability. This canbe accomplished by fashioning the band using relatively still or rigidtransverse members 25 and yieldable strands 26 in the weave thereof.

Alternatively, the transverse stiffening of the band or bands can beaccomplished by securing transverse stiffening members to the band. Asshown in FIGS. 8 and 9 for example, the stiffened band 2l' can compriseinner and outer layers 27 and 28 of circumferentially yieldable materialhaving stiffening members 29 positioned therebetween, suitably by meansof stitchings 30. It is to be understood, however, that the size, shapeand spacing of the stiffening members 29 can be varied extensively solong as the resulting efi'ect is to provide transverse stiffening of theband without appreciably impairing the circumferential yieldability ofthe band. In this modification, the friction zone 24 will, of course, beincorporated in or deposited on the inner layer 27 of the assemblage.

Having reference now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, the several views a to e,which are diagrammatic in nature and correspond in detail with thestructures previously described in connection with FIG. 2, 3, 8 and 9,are intended to illustrate the several steps involved in the properengagement and support of a stocking by a wearer of the garment. In FIG.4a, the end of the leg extension 12 or more yieldable insert 15 thereofis shown in the relaxed position, with the bands 19 and 21 downwardlyextended on the leg, as in FIG. 2 and in the lefthand showing of FIG. 1.

The first step in attaching a stocking is to fold the bands 19, 21 atthe foldable stitching 20 to an upwardly extended juxtaposed positionwith respect to the leg extension 12 and insert 15, as shown in FIG. 4b.The lower edge of this assemblage is then grasped by the wearer andpulled downwardly from the original position indicated by the dottedline 31 to a lower position indicated by the dotted line 32, whichplaces the leg extension 12 or insert 15 thereof under tension, and theupper edge 33 of a stocking 34 is pulled up and over the band 19, asindicated in FIG. 4c. The band 21 is then folded downwardly at thestitching 22 to a juxtaposed position with respect to the band 19 andoverlying the stocking edge 33, as shown in FIG. 4d. As a final step,the juxtaposed bands 19, 21 and engaged stocking edge 33 are foldeddownwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4e to overlie the stocking 34on the leg of the wearer, and the assemblage is then pulled upwardly bythe wearer to create the desired tension in the stocking, which disposesthe fold stitching 20 at a position indicated by the dotted line 35,which is between the relaxed position 31 and extended position 32,previously described. It will be noted that as shown in FIG. 4e, thestocking engaging assemblage is separated from the body of the wearer bythe stocking itself, thereby providing the maximum possible freedom ofmovement of this assemblage with changes of relative tension in thestocking itself and in the leg extension 12 or insert 15 thereof.

It will be apparent that the folding and refolding of the bands 19, 21,as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing, provides clamping engagement of thestocking edge between the friction zones 23, 24 on the bands 19, 21.While this orientation of the friction zones with respect to the engagedstocking edge is considered preferable from the standpoint that itrequires no special treatment of the stocking edge, it is to beunderstood that the advantages of the present invention can be achievedby incorporating a zone of friction material on at least one surface ofthe stocking edge. In such modification of the invention, however, it isimportant that at least two of the four surfaces provided by thejuxtaposed bands and interposed stocking edge contain zones of frictionmaterial. Such modifications have been diagrammatically illustrated inFIGS. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawing. These FIGS. are generally similar toFIG. 4c, but differ therefrom in the following ways.

In FIG. 5 friction zones 36 and 37 are provided on the band 19 and theinner surface of the stocking edge 33, in which event the friction zonecan be eliminated from the band 21. In FIG. 6, friction zones 38 and 39are located on the band 21 and the outer surface of the stocking edge33, in which event a friction zone may be eliminated from the band 19.In FIG. 7, friction zones 40 are provided on both surfaces of thestocking edge 33, in which event, the friction zones can be eliminatedfrom both the bands 19 and 21.

It will be apparent that the panty or girdle portion of the new garmentwill have a relatively long useful life, being able to withstand manyIaunderings and the like, and will be utilized during this period withmany different stockings, since stockings are inherently subject todamage, necessitating frequent changes. It is contemplated, therefore,that, in connection with certain adaptations of the invention,particularly as described in connection with FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, thespecial. stockings for use with the garment will constitute separatearticles of commerce; i.e., stockings having adjacent the upper endsthereof circumferential zones of friction material on either inner orouter surfaces or both surfaces of the stocking. Such zones of frictionmaterial should, of course, be narrower than the foldable bands on thepanty garment which engage the stocking edge.

While such special stockings would be of little value or interest exceptfor use with a panty garment in accordance with the present invention,it is realized that the special stockings per se may be soldindependently of the panty garment and even through totally differentchannels. Thus, the special stocking per se is considered to constitutea patentable component of the present invention. At the same time, itwill be recognized that the adaptation of the invention shown in FIGS. 1to 4 of the drawing can be used with stockings of conventional designsince two zones of friction material are carried by the panty garmentitself.

In the drawing, the bands l9 and 21 have been shown in simplified formin order to avoid complicating the drawing. It will be understood thatouter surfaces of these bands can be characterized or ornamented ifdesired as, for example, by stitching or otherwise securing thereto alayer of lace or other facing material. Such details, however, do notcontribute to .the novel structure or mode of operation thereof.

Various changes and modifications in the hose-retaining panty garment asherein described may occur to those skilled in the art and, to theextent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appendedclaims, it is to be understood that they constitute pan of the presentinvention.

We claim:

1. A hose-retaining panty garment comprising a panty with leg extensionshaving, at least at the lower extremities thereof, longitudinally andcircumferentially yieldable portions, a first circumferential band ofcircumferentially yieldable material joined in foldable edge to edgerelation to each yieldable portion, a second band of circumferentiallyyieldable material joined in foldable edge to edge relation to each ofsaid first bands, said bands being of essentially the same width, saidsecond band being adapted to be disposed in an upwardly foldedjuxtaposed position within said first band with a stocking edgeextending upwardly between said assemblage and the leg of a wearer anddownwardly between the juxtaposed bands, at least two of the foursurfaces provided by the juxtaposed bands and interposed stocking edgecarrying a circumferential deposit of resilient friction material, andat least the second named inwardly disposed of said circumferentialbands having means for stiffening the same in its transverse dimensionwithout impairing its circumferential yieldability.

2. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein saidfriction material is on juxtaposed surfaces of said bands.

3. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein saidfriction material is on juxtaposed surfaces of said bands, and saidfriction material comprises thin deposits of rubbery foam.

4. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 3, wherein saiddeposits have irregular surface patterns extending circumferentially ofsaid bands, and said surface pattern of one band being the mirror imageof the surface pattern of the other band permitting interfitting of saidpatterns when the bands are in juxtaposed position.

5. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein saidfriction material is on at least the inner surface of said first-namedband and the inner surface of an interposed stocking edge.

6. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein saidfriction material is on at least the inner surface of said second-namedband and the outer surface of an interposed stocking edge.

7. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein saidfriction material is on at least the inner and outer surfaces of aninterposed stocking edge.

8. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein saidstiffening means comprises transversely extending rigid members andcircumferentially extending resilient strands in the weave of said band.

9. A hose-retaining panty gannent as defined in claim 1, wherein saidstiffening means comprises a plurality of transversely extending andcircumferentially spaced rigid members secured to said band.

10. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein saidstiffening means comprises a plurality of transversely extending andcircumferentially spaced rigid members secured by stitching between thesuperimposed layers of circumferentially yieldable material forming saidband.

11. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein thelongitudinally and circumferentially yieldable portions of saidextremities comprise integral portions of twoway stretch materialforming the main portion of said panty garment and leg extensions.

12. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein thelongitudinally and circumferentially yieldable portions of saidextremities comprise circumferential bands of material having moreresilient properties than the material of said panty and leg extensions.

13. A stocking adapted for use with a hose-retaining panty garment asdefined in claim 1, characterized as having adjacent the top edge of thestocking on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces thereof, acircumferential zone of resilient friction material, the width of saidzone being slightly less than the width of said first and secondcircumferential bands of said panty garment.

14. A stocking as defined in claim 13, wherein said zone of frictionmaterial is on the inner surface of said stocking.

15. A stocking as defined in claim 13, wherein said zone of frictionmaterial is on the the outer surface of said stocking.

16. A stocking as defined in claim 13, wherein said zone of frictionmaterial is on both the inner and outer surfaced of said stocking.

17. A hose-retaining panty garment comprising a panty with depending legportions having leg openings and internal surfaces respectively boundingsaid leg openings, each said leg opening internal surface havingadjacent circumferential deposits of a resilient friction materialbonded thereto so opened as to delineate a fold line therebetween andsaid adjacent deposits being moveable through folding movement aboutsaid fold line into facing relation with each other, whereby said facingdeposits of resilient friction material are adapted to grippingly engagethe upper portion of a hose placed in an interposed positiontherebetween.

18. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 17 includingstiffening means circumferentially spaced about and orientedtransversely of said deposits of resilient friction material.

19. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 17 wherein saiddeposits of resilient friction materialare substantially of the sametransverse extents.

20. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 17 including alongitudinally extensible band in an interposed position between saidpanty and said depending leg portions having said deposits of resilientfriction material bonded thereto.

21. A hose-retaining panty garment comprising a panty with depending legportions having leg openings and integral surfaces respectively boundingsaid leg openings, each said leg opening internal surface havingadjacent circumferential resilient friction surfaces delineating a foldline therebetween and said adjacent surfaces being movable throughfolding movement about said fold line into facing relation with eachother, whereby said facing resilient friction surfaces are adapted togrippingly engage the upper portion of a hose placed in an interposedposition therebetween.

1. A hose-retaining panty garment comprising a panty with leg extensionshaving, at least at the lower extremities thereof, longitudinally andcircumferentially yieldable portions, a first circumferential band ofcircumferentially yieldable material joined in foldable edge to edgerelation To each yieldable portion, a second band of circumferentiallyyieldable material joined in foldable edge to edge relation to each ofsaid first bands, said bands being of essentially the same width, saidsecond band being adapted to be disposed in an upwardly foldedjuxtaposed position within said first band with a stocking edgeextending upwardly between said assemblage and the leg of a wearer anddownwardly between the juxtaposed bands, at least two of the foursurfaces provided by the juxtaposed bands and interposed stocking edgecarrying a circumferential deposit of resilient friction material, andat least the second named inwardly disposed of said circumferentialbands having means for stiffening the same in its transverse dimensionwithout impairing its circumferential yieldability.
 2. A hose-retainingpanty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said friction material ison juxtaposed surfaces of said bands.
 3. A hose-retaining panty garmentas defined in claim 1, wherein said friction material is on juxtaposedsurfaces of said bands, and said friction material comprises thindeposits of rubbery foam.
 4. A hose-retaining panty garment as definedin claim 3, wherein said deposits have irregular surface patternsextending circumferentially of said bands, and said surface pattern ofone band being the mirror image of the surface pattern of the other bandpermitting interfitting of said patterns when the bands are injuxtaposed position.
 5. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined inclaim 1, wherein said friction material is on at least the inner surfaceof said first-named band and the inner surface of an interposed stockingedge.
 6. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid friction material is on at least the inner surface of saidsecond-named band and the outer surface of an interposed stocking edge.7. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein saidfriction material is on at least the inner and outer surfaces of aninterposed stocking edge.
 8. A hose-retaining panty garment as definedin claim 1, wherein said stiffening means comprises transverselyextending rigid members and circumferentially extending resilientstrands in the weave of said band.
 9. A hose-retaining panty garment asdefined in claim 1, wherein said stiffening means comprises a pluralityof transversely extending and circumferentially spaced rigid memberssecured to said band.
 10. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined inclaim 1, wherein said stiffening means comprises a plurality oftransversely extending and circumferentially spaced rigid memberssecured by stitching between the superimposed layers ofcircumferentially yieldable material forming said band.
 11. Ahose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein thelongitudinally and circumferentially yieldable portions of saidextremities comprise integral portions of two-way stretch materialforming the main portion of said panty garment and leg extensions.
 12. Ahose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 1, wherein thelongitudinally and circumferentially yieldable portions of saidextremities comprise circumferential bands of material having moreresilient properties than the material of said panty and leg extensions.13. A stocking adapted for use with a hose-retaining panty garment asdefined in claim 1, characterized as having adjacent the top edge of thestocking on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces thereof, acircumferential zone of resilient friction material, the width of saidzone being slightly less than the width of said first and secondcircumferential bands of said panty garment.
 14. A stocking as definedin claim 13, wherein said zone of friction material is on the innersurface of said stocking.
 15. A stocking as defined in claim 13, whereinsaid zone of friction material is on the the outer surface of saidstocking.
 16. A stocking as defined in claim 13, wherein said zone offriction material is on both the Inner and outer surfaced of saidstocking.
 17. A hose-retaining panty garment comprising a panty withdepending leg portions having leg openings and internal surfacesrespectively bounding said leg openings, each said leg opening internalsurface having adjacent circumferential deposits of a resilient frictionmaterial bonded thereto so opened as to delineate a fold linetherebetween and said adjacent deposits being moveable through foldingmovement about said fold line into facing relation with each other,whereby said facing deposits of resilient friction material are adaptedto grippingly engage the upper portion of a hose placed in an interposedposition therebetween.
 18. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined inclaim 17 including stiffening means circumferentially spaced about andoriented transversely of said deposits of resilient friction material.19. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined in claim 17 wherein saiddeposits of resilient friction material are substantially of the sametransverse extents.
 20. A hose-retaining panty garment as defined inclaim 17 including a longitudinally extensible band in an interposedposition between said panty and said depending leg portions having saiddeposits of resilient friction material bonded thereto.
 21. Ahose-retaining panty garment comprising a panty with depending legportions having leg openings and integral surfaces respectively boundingsaid leg openings, each said leg opening internal surface havingadjacent circumferential resilient friction surfaces delineating a foldline therebetween and said adjacent surfaces being movable throughfolding movement about said fold line into facing relation with eachother, whereby said facing resilient friction surfaces are adapted togrippingly engage the upper portion of a hose placed in an interposedposition therebetween.